City Commission eyes waiving garage sale fee April 21-23

When Shawnee City Commissioners meet Monday, several agenda items will be up for their consideration.

On the consent agenda, if passed, commissioners will waive garage sale licenses and fees during the weekend of April 21-23.

Up for approval by commissioners, the city wants to surplus a 1998 Freightliner dump truck and donate it to the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center; and surplus a 1998 4x4 Jeep Cherokee and donate it to the City of McLoud for its police department.

“The City used this vehicle for the Lake Ranger during the summer and has since acquired another,” Director of Operations James Bryce said.

Several ordinances are up for action:

Commissioners may repeal and amend portions of Chapter 26, "Utilities" of the Shawnee Municipal Code; repeal and amend portions of Chapter 21, “Parks and Recreation” of the Shawnee Municipal Code; and/or implement a schedule of fees and charges in Chapter 1, General Provisions of the City Code.

In an effort to update existing regulations, the board may consider an ordinance adopting the Statewide Minimum building codes.

“Periodically the City of Shawnee updates its building codes to maintain compliance with industry standards and changes in building technology,” Community Development Director Justin DeBruin said. “Oklahoma adopts statewide minimum code standards regulating building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work performed.”

Local jurisdictions must at minimum adopt regulations that are compliant with the statewide minimum code standards, he said.

In November 2016, the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) adopted the 2015 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), he said.

In November 2015, the OUBCC adopted the 2015 editions of the: International Building Code, International Existing Buildings Code, international Fire Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, and the National Electric Code, he said.

“The City is currently under the 2009 code series,” DeBruin said. “The City of Shawnee now must comply with the state-adopted minimum codes.”

Also on the agenda, after being deferred last month, a public hearing and consideration is set for an ordinance for proposed changes to City ward boundaries.

“If the wards were exactly equal, each would represent approximately 16.66 percent of the City’s population, or 4,925 people. If the current ward boundaries were not changed, the maximum difference in population between the wards would be 1,405 people or 4.75 percent, Erickson said.

“As proposed, the maximum variance is substantially reduced to 266 people or 0.89 percent.”

Commissioners may consider approval of a single audit engagement letter and compilation engagement letter with Arledge & Associates for audit services.

“It’s standard to have a five-year contract — in 2021 we will go out to bid again,” the agenda memo reads.

“Arledge & Associates was the lowest bidder for all five years and scored the highest on ranking. They are currently our auditors and we have been extremely satisfied with their work,” the memo reads.

In other business, the March sales tax report will be shared with the board.